Movie Star Recipes-1931

We enjoyed a visit (beginning last Thursday) from West Virginia friends. They left yesterday and now our house is painfully quiet. It feels like the "down time" after a big party or a major holiday when all that's left are great memories and all the hum-drum chores to catch-up on. I spent the afternoon yesterday with a mountain of laundry.... and a treasure trove of pictures we took (Monday) at a nature center where butterflies perched on our shoulders. We crammed in so many adventures while they were here! We went to the Book Depository Museum and The Dallas Art Museum on Saturday, and then enjoyed watching their excitement at the first rodeo they'd ever seen (in Fort Worth that same evening). During the visit we watched the cattle drive down the street in Fort Worth and spent one afternoon in a Civil War museum. Bob Jones Nature Center (and a picnic) in Southlake was our destination at the close of their visit. The picnic had the usual items, but featured Whataburger hamburgers that we picked-up because they had never heard of Whataburger; doesn't exist where they live! We ate out; ate in; hiked; biked; played board games; had movie night (on a rainy Sunday) and just loved the whole time that we got to spend with them. Family and friends are life's true blessings! They are now on their way home and seeing what Austin has to offer :)


Any time that we have visitors at our house, I attempt to be a good hostess, but as I've admitted before, breakfast is not my "starring" meal. I do not excel at complicated breakfast and brunch recipes. I try to provide something that will keep folks from starving until lunchtime....when I'm awake and "firing on all cylinders"!

Here's an unusual brunch recipe from my file of vintage recipes. I got it from an old cookbook called, Favorite Recipes of the Movie Stars (1931).

Gary Cooper's Mom's Griddle Cakes

2 C flour
2 TBSP cornmeal
2 TBSP sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 C buttermilk
1/2 C milk or cream
2 eggs, beaten
2 TBSP unsalted butter, melted

Set griddle on medium heat. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Separately, mix remaining ingredients. Add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture. Stir lightly with a fork; the batter should be lumpy. Pour by tablespoonsful into the hot griddle. Cook until tops bubble; flip over. Cook 2 more minutes. Serves 4-6.

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